I have a worthwhile board here on the North Shore that I belong to, so this doesn't necessarily apply to me. You should think about contacting your board and asking for details about what the dues are used for. Also ask how many members there are currently, so you can figure out how much your local board actually receives. If they give you good answers (and they should answer you, since you are a paying member), then you are all set. If not, contact everyone you know that's in your area and figure out what you can do about it. Good luck, and let us know what happens in the future.

If there is no MLS why do you need to belong, what is it that they do for you?

If there is no MLS why do you need to belong, what is it that they do for you?

We constantly have this discussion.  We pay hundreds/year.  There's an MLS, but hey, we also have to pay per quarter to use the MLS, so that's not a benefit of our board. Hmmm... there's our surpa keys! Oh wait, we pay Supra directly every year for those...  Oh I know, it's for uploading documents to the mls, we can fax them in and they upload them.  hmmm... we can do that ourselves too.  Wait, I know! They offer classes occasionally.... the same 4 over and over and over and over.... and we still have to pay a class fee.

Basically all I can see is that they put out a newsletter with sales stats for the month that we can garner ourselves off the Paragon system for our MLS.  They answer phone calls from agents who can't figure out how to use a computer.  They make name changes, email changes, company changes, to the MLS.  And they run a store where we can purchase discounted items like brochures, brochure boxes, lockboxes, etc.  Takes up a whole 1 6' wall. 

Sheree,

My local board doesn't even provide most of the things you mention. Occasionally I'll receive a newsletter via email, otherwise, we don't here from them until the fees are due.

The Austin Board is pretty good, but their location is bad. They moved it from a nice central Austin location to far far north Austin hidden behind some other office buildings. Thats my bigest beef with ABOR.

I participate with our local board. I am on several committees. But I have nothing bad to say about them at all. I dont know why one board is so great while another board doesnt stack up? I guess I am lucky.

Ed,

    Sorry to hear your frustration. I am the president of my local board and we work very hard to give value to our members. I'm surprised to hear you pay "hundreds of dollars" to your local board. I could see hundreds for all three. We have 15 committees and all sorts of activities, classes and general services for our members. Maybe you should talk to your state board to see how to get things energized. Also, what about your board of directors and officers. Can you appeal to them for change?

What exactly do you pay dues for, if not the MLS? What is your local MLS? I'm confused.

We pay about $800 per year, plus insurance, etc., but we do have an MLS service, and they also provide education and fight our local 'politicians' on our behalf, all the time. 

Our Board is one of the biggest, and the technology is great (or at least a huge improvement from years ago), we can use the Board rooms at our local Board (we can rent them); they hold training for us there, they have all kinds of member services, etc...

I am not sure I would be a member, or I would pay any fee at all, if there was no MLS service, at the very least.  What exactly are you paying for? I'm confused too. :)

Not clear what you are paying for then. And why.

Our board has a number of active committees and also provides the MLS services.

Good luck!

Intially our board supplied us with an MLS system to justify the expense. That system has since dissolved.

No MLS?!  Doesn't that make it tough to sell homes?

The MLS we subscribe to is not an affiliate with our board. It is a separate entity that we pay quarterly for. We are clearly confused as to what we are paying dues for. I think I'll give the board a call and find out where the funds are going

Hi Ed - I guess you can add me to the confused group too.  You don't have an MLS?  How do you know what's on the market or what's sold, or do a CMA?  And why would you pay a board if it doesn't offer services?  Are you required to pay the board and who says?  Sounds kinda weird to me. Good lord, I hear there's a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.  Good thing you're looking in to it.